JOEL HOEKSTRA: “Upcoming WHITESNAKE EXPERIENCE concert will be an isolated show and nothing more”
05-06-2025
Joel Hoekstra says that the upcoming concert by members of WHITESNAKE in Serbia will be “an isolated show and nothing more.”
A press conference was held last week in Belgrade, Serbia to announce the participants of the 58th Guitar Festival in Zaječar, scheduled to take place from August 28 to 30 at Kraljevica. The conference featured guests Marco Mendoza, Dino Jelusić (a.k.a. Dino Jelusick) and Ivan Keller, who announced an exclusive performance by the band WHITESNAKE EXPERIENCE BY THE MEMBERS OF WHITESNAKE — a project specially created for the Zaječar Guitar Festival. This will be the only concert in the world featuring members of the legendary band WHITESNAKE: Hoekstra, Jelusić, Mendoza, drummer Tommy Aldridge and keyboardist Michele Luppi.
Yesterday (Wednesday, June 4), Hoekstra took to his social media to share a headline announcing the the Zaječar Guitar Festival performance, and he included the following message: “Just so everyone understands clearly what is happening. This is not a band. This is not a project. This is an isolated show and nothing more.
“We actually did one of these already July 21, 2023 at Guitare-en Scene in France. I believe we were just billed as ‘All-Star Band’ for that. Tommy Aldridge and Reb Beach were unavailable for that. Perhaps Tommy‘s involvement in this upcoming show and the decision (by others) to bill it as WHITESNAKE EXPERIENCE has caused the stir.
“I had reached out to (WHITESNAKE leader) David Coverdale regarding Guitare-En Scene (when I was asked to participate) to make sure that the appearance was ok with him. That call was placed out of respect and quite simply, to do the right thing. David essentially replied ‘sure, have fun!’
“When this upcoming show in Serbia was booked, I did the same thing and David came back with the same reply. David has not endorsed this as a project or band. He simply gave me permission to participate. Any misleading info making this seem like it’s more than one show is inappropriate and sensationalistic in nature.
“I’ve also seen some people wondering why Reb Beach isn’t going to be there and it’s my understanding that Reb was unavailable for the show.
“I know this all seems a bit much, but I don’t think it’s fair to anyone involved to have this appear as if we are doing anything more than a ‘show’.
“So, thank you DC for giving your blessing to us to go have some fun and play together!”
At last week’s press conference, Mendoza emphasized that he and the other musicians chose to hold this unique global concert in Serbia, specifically in Zaječar, because they have always been warmly welcomed in the country and have sold out shows in Belgrade.
Mendoza emphasized that they chose to hold this unique global concert in Serbia, specifically in Zaječar, because they have always been warmly welcomed in the country and have sold out shows in Belgrade.
“Tradition and quality are very important to us, and the Guitar Festival, with its 58-year history, is something you must respect and cherish. Your audience is one of the best in the world, and I believe they will enjoy this performance with us,” he said.
Dino added: “We’re preparing a special setlist of WHITESNAKE‘s greatest hits. Singing the songs of my childhood idol David Coverdale is a special honor and pleasure for me. Although I’ve performed with big names in the rock world in the meantime, WHITESNAKE‘s songs suit me best, and playing with such a fantastic group of musicians is pure hedonism for me.”
Coverdale gave his approval for this project, adding a special exclusivity to the Guitar Festival. As a result, a large number of visitors from Serbia and the region are expected.
Jelusić was previously a member of the multi-platinum-selling band TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA and DIRTY SHIRLEY (with George Lynch),ANIMAL DRIVE and recorded with many others. Dino has been singing, touring and recording since the age of five. Other than being a frontman, his main instrument are keyboards but he also plays bass, guitar and drums. He finished music academy and did theater work.
WHITESNAKE launched its farewell tour on May 10, 2022 at Dublin, Ireland’s 3Arena. The band’s 14-song set, which was part of a European tour with special guests EUROPE and co-headliners FOREIGNER, marked WHITESNAKE‘s inaugural performance with the group’s two latest two additions, Jelusić and bassist Tanya O’Callaghan.
Coverdale had both his knees replaced with titanium in 2017 after suffering from degenerative arthritis. He later explained that he was in so much pain with arthritis in his knees that it hampered his ability to perform live.
Prior to the pandemic, WHITESNAKE had been touring in support of its latest album, “Flesh & Blood”, which was released in May 2019 via Frontiers Music Srl.
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